Punjab Assembly approves hefty pay raise for lawmakers

• Bill proposes hike in speaker's salary from Rs125,000 to Rs950,000.
• Exemplary punishment for APS tragedy perpetrators sought.
• Resolution states that incidents like this could not terrify nation.

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly has unanimously approved a bill to significantly increase lawmakers' salaries, raising them from Rs76,000 to Rs400,000. 

The Punjab Revision of Salaries of Public Representatives 2024 bill was passed during the assembly session presided over by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan on Monday. 

Leader of the Opposition Ahmad Khan Bachar raised objections to the Bill but the speaker termed it as per the 1972 Parliamentary Act, saying that it was a right and constitutional step.

"The perks including salaries and allowances of the speaker, deputy speaker, MPAs, parliamentary secretaries, advisors, special assistants and ministers are governed by their respective laws and every time, a revision in their perks is needed, relevant laws were required to be amended by the Assembly," the bill states. 

According to the bill, an increase in their salary was made in 2019 and the emoluments drawn by them are “very low” and “inadequate” in the prevailing circumstances. Therefore, an increase in their salary is proposed.”

It also proposes a minister’s pay to increase from Rs100,000 to Rs960,000 and for the Punjab Assembly speaker, it will increase from Rs125,000 to Rs950,000.

As per the proposal, the salary of the deputy speaker will jump to Rs800,000 from Rs120,000; parliamentary secretary from Rs83,000 to Rs451,000; adviser to the CM from Rs100,000 to Rs665,000; special assistant to the CM from Rs100,000 to Rs665,000.

Meanwhile, another resolution condemning the Army Public School, Peshawar tragedy of 2014 was also passed unanimously. 

The resolution, moved by PML-N MPA Raheela Khadim Hussein, demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of this heinous act in which innocent students and school staff were martyred by the terrorists.

The resolution stated that such incidents could not terrify the nation. The resolution also paid rich tribute to the teachers and 124 students martyred 10 years ago in the tragedy. 

The nation marked a decade since the tragic attack on the APS on Monday.